By
Marlo Mack.
Discovered by Player FM and our community — copyright is owned by the publisher, not Player FM, and audio streamed directly from their servers.

How to Be a Girl is an audio podcast I produce about life with my six-year-old transgender daughter. It stars the two of us -- a single mom and a six-year-old "girl with a penis" -- as we attempt together to sort out just what it means to be a girl.

36 episodes available.
A new episode about every
48 days
averaging 15 mins duration
.

A new friend at school. A poker lesson. A 10-year-old hatches a plan. MUSIC CREDITS: “Ganef” by Vagabond Opera and “Moonlight Love Affair” by Steve Rice (Courtesy of Audiosocket) “Chill Wave” by Kevin MacLeod “The Reckoning” by Podington Bear Please consider checking out our Support Page. Your help keeps this podcast going!…

Are the new next-door neighbors going to let their daughters play with mine if they find out she's transgender? To attempt to answer this question, I seek expert advice from a new friend in the Bible Belt. MUSIC CREDITS: “Morning” by Nicole Reynolds, “Shall We Gather at the River” by Pat Holmberg, “Amazing Grace Solo Piano” by Lana Palmer (Cour ...…

Need to hear a positive story about politics? I know I do. Here's the inspiring story of Sarah McBride, the young transgender activist who gives me hope (and is my personal pick for the first transgender president). MUSIC CREDITS: "Halflight," “G Piano," “Across the River, and "Triste" by Podington Bear; “Asturias” by Isaac Albeniz (Courtesy of ...…

In the last episode, I asked my listeners to help me answer this question: Should my daughter tell the kids at her new school that she's transgender? In this episode, you will hear the wisdom that came back to me. My cup runneth over. MUSIC CREDITS: “Den," "Floating in Space," "Surface Tension," and "Threshold" by Podington Bear; "You Are a Mem ...…

My daughter starts fifth grade at a new school next month. It's a fresh start, where no one knows that she's transgender. How do I handle this? How do I advise her? Should she keep her transgender status to herself or be more open? At the end of this episode, I'll be asking for your advice: What should I do? MUSIC CREDITS: "Sensitive" and "Cons ...…

We've moved. To the suburbs. We're getting to know the new neighbors, and we're wondering: Will they accept us here? MUSIC CREDITS: "Glitter" and "Chauncy" by Podington Bear (licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0) and "Bloom" by Jahzzar (licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0).

Did you know there's a wedding coming up, uniting an Englishman with an American bride? Listen now for ALL the juicy details on this intercontinental couple's forthcoming nuptials! (And hear what my daughter thinks of her soon-to-be stepdad.) MUSIC CREDITS: "Lord of the Land," "Evening Melodrama," "Master of the Feast," "The Rule," and "Bossa B ...…

In this episode, my daughter and I get to talk with two of our heroes. Jazz Jennings is a reality TV star, LGBTQ activist, and arguably the most famous transgender teen in the world. Her mom Jeanette is as brave as they come. MUSIC CREDITS: “Springtime,” “Quartrefoil,” and “Blue” by Podington Bear (licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0) “Helice” by Monpl ...…

Of course I knew this was going to happen eventually. But that didn't make it any easier when it did. Music credits: “Chicxuclub” and “Transient” by Podington Bear “Undaunted” by Kevin MacLeod “Dormir rien de plus” by Monplaisir

After a pretty lengthy hiatus, we're back! The first episode of the 2018 season comes out next week. Here's a little taste of what's to come. Music credits: "Lode Runner" and "Sorrento" by Podington Bear.

How can the best of times also be the worst of times? This spring nearly washed me away... but not quite. M. tries her hand at TV journalism. Music credit: David Mumford, “Singing in the Rain (Instrumental)" (licensed under CC BY 4.0)

This tiny episode is mostly silly, and a little bit serious. I also have some news. Plus, cat videos. (KUOW is hosting a How to Be a Girl listening party in Seattle on February 26! Reserve a seat at http://kuow.org/post/join-us-how-be-girl-listening-party) MUSIC CREDITS: "Quirky Dog" by Kevin MacLeod (www.incompetech.com) "Mama" (instrumental) ...…

In 2013, Obama opened a window for transgender people when he made it easier to change the gender on your Social Security record. But with Trump coming into office, it looks like that window is about to close. I hadn't been in much of a rush to change my 9-year-old transgender daughter's Social Security record, but I sure am now. MUSIC CREDITS: ...…

It’s still five years off, but I think about it all the time. What’s it going to be like when my transgender daughter becomes a teenager? Music credits: Andy G Cohen, "Land_Legs" (licensed under CC BY 4.0) David Mumford, "Twinkle Twinkle Instrumental" (licensed under CC BY 4.0) Loch Lomond, "Elephants and Little Girls" (licensed under CC BY 4.0 ...…

She hasn't got a womb or ovaries but she wants to be a mommy. How do I tell my young daughter that she won't ever be a biological mother? Music credits: "Child Come Home" by Michael Howard (Licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0) "Flagger" by Blue Dot Sessions (Licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0) “That Old Harpoon” by Gillicuddy (Licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0)…

When I first realized I had a transgender child, Lauren reached out and told me it was going to be OK. Ever since, she's been the one I lean on when I'm terrified. She's the bravest woman I know. My friend, "Lauren," in 1979. Music credits: “George Street Shuffle” and “In Your Arms” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) “Evenhanded” by Podington B ...…

My daughter has lots of friends, and she's big on play dates with other little girls. But sometimes we need to book a special play date, because sometimes you just need to hang out with somebody who's just like you. Music Credits: "The Temperature of the Air on the Bow of the Kaleetan” by Chris Zabriskie, “Hélice” by Monplaisir, and “Rainbow St ...…

When my husband and I split up four years ago, we agreed to share custody of our...."son." Four years later, we have a transgender daughter, and the crazy truth is that I've never really asked him how he feels about this. So I did. And this is what he said. (I asked him a few other questions, too.) Music credits: “The Father’s Name” by Gianluca ...…

This isn't a full episode. Just a little update on what we've been up to, with some very silly audio of my daughter. (What can I say? It's been a silly summer!) There's also an important announcement about the future of this podcast and some news on my daughter's love life (and mine too!). Music credits: "Fudge" by Gillicuddy…

I never thought a bathroom bill - the kind they passed in North Carolina - would come to my home state. But it did. They're trying to pass one where I live, and this is the story of my fight (so far) against it. (You can see more photos related to this story on my blog, gendermom.com.) Music credits: "Heartache" by Broke For Free, "Golden" by L ...…

This is a continuation of Episode IX. It tells the rest of the story of what happened when my transgender daughter started second grade at a new school. Music credits: "Light Thought Variation 2," "Thatched Villagers," and "Relaxing Piano Music" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), "Moonlight Sonata (Ludwig van Beethoven)" by Dr. Phibes and The ...…

This episode has been six months in the making, because that's how long it took for this story to play out. It's the story of my daughter entering second grade at a new school where we knew no one, almost no one knew her secret, and I had no idea how I was going to keep her safe. Music credits: "Blackbird" and "Light Thought Variation 2" by Kev ...…

Earlier this year, my daughter got to meet the transgender TV star Laverne Cox. I wrote about it for my blog, and that heart-warming, feel-good post went crazy viral on the internet. But there's more to the story. Here it is. My daughter gave her first interview (to Amy Poehler's Smart Girls website): Check it out! Music credits: "Hearts Mend ( ...…

When my "son" first started saying that "he" was actually a "she," I went looking for information. I wanted hard numbers. I wanted data. I wanted science to tell me to do. This is what I discovered. If you'd like to watch a condensed, 5-minute animated version of this episode, check this out: Music credits: "Arboles" by Podington Bear; "Outside ...…

She's six years old and transgender. I'm a single mom. This is what happens when we both hit the dating scene and compare notes about it. Music credits: "Night Owl" by Broke for Free, "Is This What Mama Meant" by Michaela Anne.

How girlie do you have to be to secure your spot in the girl club? And what happens when your own mother questions your girl credentials? Bonus: The Origins of Acrobat Girl: Music credits: "Action" and "Eastern" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), "Xena: Warrior Princess - Main Title" by Joseph LoDuca.…

What's it like raising a transgender child? How did your family respond? What about school? How in the world does this work? This episode gives you the low-down on what daily life is really like for us. Music credits: "Le Petit Jardin" by Lee Maddeford, "Under the Color Cave" by Noveller, "Lost Frontier" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), "Big ...…

When he was three years old, my son informed me that she was actually my daughter. I'm now the mother of a happy, confident little transgender girl, but it took a while to get here. Watch an animated version of Episode I: Music credits: "Ichill" by Kakurenbo, "Rosary Novena for Gender Transitioning" by Terre Thaemlitz, "The Flight of Lulu" by P ...…

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